Highlights of Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, founded more than a century ago, means 'New Flower' in Amharic. At an elevation of 2,400m (7,874 ft), the third highest capital in the world, the climate is pleasantly cool. The city mixes past and present, statues from the imperial times coexist with placards from the former Marxist Regime. Huge billboards advertise current activities in the city and modern businesses, as well as development organizations' goodwill projects. The streets are a mesh of expensive cars, old Russian “Lada model” taxis, along with donkeys, sheep, and goats. Traditional mud houses stand not far from austere fascist buildings and private-sector banks.

Take a boat trip on Lake Tana. Visit Ura Kidane Mehret and Azwa Maryam monasteries.

Explore Gondar town on your own or simply relax and try to strike up a conversation with the locals.

After breakfast depart for Debark, the starting point for our trekking in the national park. Register with the park authorities and head to the Simien Lodge to relax before a full day in the Simien Mountains tomorrow.

The scenic Simien Mountains are a good break from the busy cities. Known as the “Roof of Africa”, they rank as one of the continent’s most beautiful mountain ranges. A number of peaks reach well over 4,000m (13,123.4 ft), and Ras Dashen, the highest peak in Ethiopia, is one of Africa’s highest mountains. The Simien Mountains have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here, you can see some of Ethiopia's remarkable flora and fauna including Gelada baboon, Walia ibex, and, if you're lucky, the Ethiopian wolf. The huge lammergeyer is also found soaring over the valleys here.

Lalibela is a good place to taste the local beverage, Tej, or honey wine with local traditional song and dance.

The churches inside Lalibela town are grouped as the first and second cluster. In the morning, we explore Lalibela’s first group of churches, then in the afternoon we drive to Yemrehana Kristos, outside the city, for a half hour hike to the church.

The winding road through breathtaking mountain scenery takes us past spectacular views of the Sekota and Alamata Mountains.

Take a short tour of Mekele then drive to Hawzien after lunch, visiting Abraha Atsbera on the way. In the afternoon, opt to walk to Debre Tsion Abraham or Abune Yemata guh, depending on the group preference.

Axum is Ethiopia's oldest city, dating back some 2,000 years when it was the hub of the Axumite Empire. The Queen of Sheba made it her capital 1,000 years before Christ. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church was founded here in the 4th century and it remains the holiest city of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.